A milestone in bilateral cooperation was marked this week as Adrien Haye, outgoing director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Côte d’Ivoire, was elevated to the National Order of the country. The ceremony took place on Friday, July 31, 2026, at the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Budget offices in Abidjan’s Plateau district, where Minister Adama Coulibaly presented the award in the presence of French Ambassador Jean-Christophe Belliard and AFD staff.

Representing President Alassane Ouattara and Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, Minister Coulibaly praised Adrien Haye’s dedication to Côte d’Ivoire’s progress during his four-year tenure. He highlighted Haye’s hands-on approach in identifying and implementing key economic interventions across multiple sectors.

From his arrival in 2022, Adrien Haye dedicated himself to strengthening the country’s financial framework, supporting government initiatives from funding structuring to project implementation and monitoring. Under his leadership, the AFD mobilized 934 million euros — equivalent to 623 billion West African CFA francs — through sovereign loans and Debt Reduction and Development Contract (C2D) funds, reinforcing Côte d’Ivoire’s macroeconomic stability.

During his mandate, five new sovereign loan agreements totaling nearly 500 million euros (about 330 billion CFA francs) were signed. Additionally, the third C2D allocation was aligned with the National Development Plan (PND) 2021–2025, ensuring coordinated support for national priorities.

Minister Coulibaly emphasized that these efforts cemented the AFD’s position as Côte d’Ivoire’s top bilateral partner, with Adrien Haye playing a central role in this achievement.

Deeply moved by the honour — his first from a foreign state — Adrien Haye expressed gratitude to Ivorian authorities and reflected on his time in the country. He acknowledged the strong partnerships formed, particularly with the minister’s team, and pledged to continue advocating for Côte d’Ivoire’s interests.

« The portfolio we’ve built together speaks for itself. I remain committed to championing Côte d’Ivoire’s growth and development agenda, » he stated.